Tribute Throwback shines some light on an underexposed tribute album. Enter to win a copy!

A few years ago I was poking around a Chicago record store and came across an intriguing album: Headed for the Ditch: A Michigan Tribute to Neil Young. I thought I knew all Neil Young cover collections, but this one I’d never heard of. I only knew one band on there, but the packaging looked nice and the price was right, so I picked it up. It worked out better than most impulse purchases I’ve made (incidentally, anyone want a lava lamp nightlight?).

The album contains eleven new covers by Michigan artists, ranging from Edward’s beautiful slow-building “Birds” to the Hard Lessons’ seven-minute blast through “Hey, Hey, My, My.” The disc hit the right blend of acoustic and electric, faithful and exploratory. Plus how many Neil Young tributes include “We R in Control,” the song from Neil’s ill-fated electronic venture Trans?

Now before you run off to iTunes, I’ll save you some time: You won’t find it. The old-school purists at Lower Peninsula Records only release their stuff on vinyl. But boy do they do a fine job. The beautiful gatefold packaging features a stitched 16-page booklet with handwritten lyrics and drawings by every band on the album. It sounds great and comes in a coffee table-worthy package to boot.

Oh, and did I mention we have one to give away? [EDIT: This contest is now closed.]For your chance to win this rare vinyl, enter your name, email, and favorite Neil Young song in the comments below. Entries close in one week. Better yet, hedge your bets and order a copy too (mention Cover Me to get two bonus tracks). If you order it then end up winning the contest, you’ve got a head start on your Christmas shopping!

To whet your appetite, Cover Me is pleased to offer a few songs from the album. Again, this was only released on vinyl, but label head John Krohn was nice enough to pass some MP3s along.

Side A
1. Dave Lawson, “Lookin’ for a Love”
2. Gerudo, “When You Dance I Can Really Love”
3. Saturday Looks Good to Me, “See the Sky About to Rain”
4. The Casionauts, “Southern Man”
5. Ian Saylor, “Soldier”
6. New Grenada, “Barstool Blues”

Enter to win a copy of Headed for the Ditch: A Michigan Tribute to Neil Young on vinyl below [EDIT: This contest is now closed]. And/or order a copy here. When you do, mention Cover Me to get two bonus tracks: Kevin McGorey covering “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” and Blood Wings covering “Alabama.”

Great versions, those two!
My favourite track would be Cortez The Killer. Not one version of the many I’ve heard over the years, whether from Neil Young or others, sounds the same, but there’s always that unmistakable core of contempt, anger and frustration which combine to make it one of the truely great songs of rock history.

Love most songs on Rust Never Sleeps/Chrome Dreams I. Actually love most of his stuff, even the shocking pinks, trans and reactor tunes. (Ain’t got no T-bone, got mashed potatoes!)
At this exact moment my favorite: Thrasher

I’m from MICHIGAN….& you are making this very difficult…my FAVORITE song? Depends on my mood, I love so much of Neil’s songs, been a fan since the 70’s..YIKES!!
over all hmmmm, I really hate to commit to one song!!!! but if that’s the rule for the contest…”Cowgirl in the Sand”
but really, love so many more!!!!

“No More” from Freedom….but when it comes live music, it doesn’t get much better than the “No More” live version from S.N.L….same evening he did the historic Rockin in the Free World….live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued!

Hmmm really hard to say (most favorite) but you cant go wrong with down by the river or….cortez the killer sorry had to put @ least two songs. . just recently saw him here in houston txon may 4 and he just blew me away acoustic and electric…AWESOME